FBR Advances Mantis Robot Commissioning and Secures North American Distribution

Mantis™ Welding Robot Nears Market Debut

FBR Limited (ASX:FBR) has taken a significant step forward with its Mantis™ welding robot, commencing assembly and commissioning of the first unit. This initial robot has already been pre-sold to State Machinery & Equipment Sales in Louisiana, with delivery slated for the second half of 2026. The commissioning milestone edges FBR closer to commercial demonstrations, a key phase ahead of broader customer adoption.

In a strategic move to accelerate market entry, FBR appointed Industrial Robotics LLC, formed by the founder of State Machinery, as a non-exclusive distributor for the United States and Canada. Industrial Robotics will manage sales, marketing, local inventory, operator training, maintenance, and customer support across key southern US states including Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, the Florida Panhandle, and Eastern Texas. The distributor will also handle spare parts for FBR’s Mantis™, Hadrian®, and Firehawk™ robots across the contiguous US, establishing a comprehensive service footprint without expanding FBR’s direct staff.

Hadrian® Units Poised for Australian Deployment

Meanwhile, FBR’s Hadrian® bricklaying robots continue to advance. The H03 unit, recently deployed in the US, is returning to Fremantle for recommissioning to support Wall as a Service® operations in Western Australia. The H04 unit has completed road registration and is being fitted with a saw module that enables construction of diverse structural designs with minimal manual input. These developments underpin FBR’s ongoing push to scale its robotic construction services domestically.

Funding Secured Amid Tight Cash Position

Financially, FBR completed a capital consolidation and ratified prior security issues during the quarter. Post-quarter, the company secured $1.7 million in loans, including a $300,000 secured loan from Director Lindsay Partridge and an unsecured $400,000 loan to cover short-term working capital needs. Additionally, FBR locked in a binding $900,000 convertible note facility with SBC Global Investment Fund, with potential funding up to $3.87 million subject to mutual agreement.

Despite these injections, FBR’s cash balance remains precariously low at $28,000 AUD at quarter-end, with estimated funding sufficient for just 0.04 quarters of operations excluding R&D rebates. The company has access to a $20 million Share Subscription Facility and a revolving R&D tax finance facility, alongside exploring further financing options including equity placements to sustain ongoing activities.

CEO Highlights Market Opportunity and Upcoming Milestones

CEO Mark Pivac expressed optimism about FBR’s progress, highlighting the imminent Factory Acceptance Testing for Mantis™ and the value of partnering with Industrial Robotics to de-risk North American market entry. He emphasised the large opportunity in US and Canadian industrial fabrication and shipbuilding sectors. On the Hadrian® front, Pivac noted continued work on the Australian project pipeline with further updates expected soon.